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Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research
Published in: Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research 1-2/2010

Open Access 01-03-2010 | Original Paper

Change What? Identifying Quality Improvement Targets by Investigating Usual Mental Health Care

Authors: Ann F. Garland, Leonard Bickman, Bruce F. Chorpita

Published in: Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research | Issue 1-2/2010

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Abstract

Efforts to improve community-based children’s mental health care should be based on valid information about effective practices and current routine practices. Emerging research on routine care practices and outcomes has identified discrepancies between evidence-based practices and “usual care.” These discrepancies highlight potentially potent quality improvement interventions. This article reviews existing research on routine or “usual care” practice, identifies strengths and weaknesses in routine psychotherapeutic care, as well as gaps in knowledge, and proposes quality improvement recommendations based on existing data to improve the effectiveness of children’s mental health care. The two broad recommendations for bridging the research-practice gap are to implement valid, feasible measurement feedback systems and clinician training in common elements of evidence-based practice.
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Metadata
Title
Change What? Identifying Quality Improvement Targets by Investigating Usual Mental Health Care
Authors
Ann F. Garland
Leonard Bickman
Bruce F. Chorpita
Publication date
01-03-2010
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research / Issue 1-2/2010
Print ISSN: 0894-587X
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3289
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-010-0279-y

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